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THE PREHISTORIC 

Oyster Shell Heaps 

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DAMARISCOTTA RIVER 


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BY 

HAROLD W. CASTNER 


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View of the northern mound on the Newcastle shore , taken in 1948 . 
Vegetation has cowered most of the deposits on each side oj the river. 









A Story of 

THE MYSTIFYING, PREHISTORIC 

OYSTER SHELL HEAPS 

of the 

DAMARISCOTTA RIVER 


Containing records of explorations 
by scientists and all known data on 
this man-made wonder of antiquity 


Together With 

Pictures of the Excavations of 1886 


This great deposit of over five million cubic feet of 
oyster shells on both sides of the Damariscotta River 
in Maine, has been the object of repeated investiga¬ 
tion by scientists, but still remains a mystery of 
antiquity. Whatever ancient peoples discovered this 
abundant food supply has never been learned. But 
much has been found to establish certain reasonable 
conclusions from which the reader may presume the 
origin, and vaguely identify the successive tribes 
who occupied the area in prehistoric times. 


Copyright 1950 
by 

HAROLD W. CASTNER 


ti 


Printed by 

THE LINCOLN COUNTY NEWS 
Commercial Department 
Damariscotta, Maine 


femiGHS DEP0S1I 

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m -11950 


Oyster Shell Heaps 


EPOSITS of oyster shells and other bivalves, have 
been found all over the earth. Most of these are in 
lllfll banks or mounds, and some are covered by vegetation 
to a greater or lesser extent, making their discovery 
accidental. Many of these have been exposed to view due 
to erosion of river banks and shorelines, where water has 
continued its never ending encroachment on the land. 

Thousands of deposits have been noted on every 
continent, ranging from a small pile to great masses which 
are of such proportion that they form a feature of the 
landscape. Many of the larger deposits have been known 
for years and have been explored by scientists and visited 
by tourists. Some of the largest known are on the peninsula 
of Denmark. Others of nearly equal size are found in Japan, 
Florida and in British Columbia. For some time it was 
thought these were natural deposits which were river and 
even ocean beds, which had been raised by some geological 
upheaval exposing them to view. Widespread investigation 
soon proved this to be untrue. Investigators found all sorts 
of implements, bones, crude utensils and even skeletons, to 
show that these were heaps of cast off shells of those shell¬ 
fish whose succulent parts were consumed by some previous 
race of humans. 

Of all these interesting deposits throughout the world, 
New England holds the spotlight, for its great deposits on 
the Damariscotta River in Maine, not only because a 
description of them would resemble all others of this kind, 
but because they are nearly, if not quite, the largest shell 
heaps in the world. 

The Damariscotta River is an arm of the sea, situated 
between the Kennebec and Penobscot Rivers. Fourteen miles 
from its mouth it passes under a bridge which connects the 
Twin towns of Newcastle and Damariscotta. A mile above 





4 


OYSTER SHELL HEAPS 


this, the river narrows perceptably and swift currents carry 
it through treacherous channels. All along this area the 
maximum width is not more than a hundred yards. At this 
point it takes a sharp bend westward and opens into a large 
bay nearly two miles long and half a mile wide. Here it stops 
as salt water, but receives the fresh water of the Damaris- 
cotta Lake, which is situated just beyond the little village 
of Damariscotta Mills. 

At the bend of the river, just mentioned, the deposit of 
oyster shells is continuous on both sides for over three 
hundred yards. There are five major mounds and many 
smaller deposits ranging from a few bushels to many tons. 

These mounds have been known to white men since 
the days of the earliest explorers. Gilbert and Popham, as 
well as Captains George Weymouth, Martin Pring, John 
Smith and Sir Ferdinando Gorges, were all exploring this 
area shortly after the year 1600 A.D., and each explorer was 
visited by a large delegation of Wawenock Indians, who 
invited them to visit the Great Bashaba, who was the peace¬ 
time ruler of the whole Abnaki State. A location was always 
given as North of Pemaquid, where the great shell heaps 
were located. Owing to the abundance of food at this point, 
it is quite certain this was the chief settlement of the 
Wawenocks. 

The larger deposits on either side of the river could not 
escape notice, and particularly those on the western bank, 
just below the bend in the river. On this peninsular they 
extend in a steep bank formation for over four hundred feet, 
and are fully exposed to view from the river. The northern 
portion of this particular mound is some four feet thick, 
but being located on higher ground, it has the appearance 
of uniform depth, but the southern part extends over much 
lower ground and is about thirty-one feet deep. This exceeds 
the height of any similar deposit in the entire world. 
Vegetation has crept over these deposits, making it difficult 
to define the exact length and breadth of them. Portions of 





OYSTER SHELL HEAPS 


5 


this great mass extend some seventy-five feet inland and 
beyond this are lesser deposits, the examination of which is 
difficult due to roots and trees which have grown over them 
in all directions. 

Modern examination reveals the enormous losses which 
it has suffered by erosion from tides since ancient times. This 
is more noticable along the beach which lies in front of them. 
Here, the shells are packed up in almost vertical formations. 
It is very evident that this was not the original formation, 
as the land must have extended farther out into the river, 
at which time the shells were thrown in the original piles. 
As erosion continued, the shells in this bank fell down until 
we note a long beach of fine white shells which have 
crumbled by action of water and ice. 

For many generations, since the white man has occupied 
this area, these shells have been removed in great quantities 
for walks, roads, and other purposes. Teams, carts, and even 
scows, have carried away hundreds of tons and yet the 
enormity of the deposit seems to change but little. 

In the year 1886, a syndicate of Boston men, conceived 
the idea of converting this enormous supply into lime. They 
contacted the Damariscotta Town Clerk, Mr. E. R. Castner, 
and arranged to have him gather and ship two barrels of 
shells for analysis. The result must have been satisfactory, 
as operations were started and a great factory for processing 
the shells was erected, at a cost of over ten-thousand dollars. 
This factory was built on the eastern shore, on land owned 
by Mrs. Mary P. L. Stetson. The great deposits on the 
western shore were owned by William Taylor Glidden who 
prefered to preserve them for posterity as a natural curiosity. 

Previous to this commercial enterprise, Professor F. W. 
Putnam, of the Peabody Museum, at Cambridge, Mass¬ 
achusetts, had made extensive explorations and examination 
of this deposit, in conjunction with the distinguished 
scientists, Jeffries Wyman and Edward S. Morse. Valuable 
information was obtained and a fair quantity of relics. They 



6 


OYSTER SHELL HEAPS 


felt that if the mounds could be uncovered at greater depths, 
it would reveal more interesting knowledge of the possibility 
of origin, and shed more conclusive light on the mystery of 
this ancient wonder, and particularly, information which 
might make it possible to compute the age of these deposits. 

Hearing of the proposed mill and commercial enterprise, 
Professor Putnam, immediately contacted the men who 
were to operate the business and purchased all rights to 
whatever relics might be uncovered. Mr. Abram Tarr 
Gamage of Damariscotta, a local antiquarian, was engaged 
to be constantly on the ground, for the purpose of taking all 
sorts of notes and data, measurements and information, in 
addition to relics of any kind or description which might 
be found. 

Within the text are the official pictures which Mr. 
Gamage had taken of the great Whaleback Mound on the 
western shore. In the foreground of one picture may be seen 
the barrels, which were used to ship the relics of every 
description which were uncovered, which included imple¬ 
ments, pottery, bones, skeletons and all sorts of spear heads 
and several curious articles which could not be identified. 
A great quantity of valuable relics were thus preserved, but 
it is of interest to note that although they were shipped 
to the Museum, they remained unclassified for years and 
due to the lack of space, it is not known whether or not 
they have been taken from the original shipments and placed 
on exhibit, even to this day. 

In earlier days, a lime kiln was built on the western 
bank, and many tons of shells were burned in an effort to 
extract the lime. This venture was of short duration, 
however, and was found to be unprofitable. 

Just previous to the Civil War, Professor Chadbourne 
of Bowdoin College, made a thorough study of the deposits, 
and established for all time, conclusive proof that these 
shells had been left there as a result of ancient feasts, and 
at a time so far in the past, he dared not attempt computation. 



OYSTER SHELL HEAPS 


7 


He found many individual piles of shells ten or fifteen feet 
in diameter and several feet deep. Beneath this the soil was 
mad up of a diluvial deposit of sand, gravel and rocks, re¬ 
sembling the land adjacent to the deposits. There were 
numerous bones of animals, birds and beavers, and even a 
sturgeon’s plate. A dark line ran through the bottom of the 
great mounds, showing the possibility of vegetable mould, 
formed during temporary abandonment of the place. Shells 
under this layer were decomposed, or turned to lime, as if 
acted upon by fire. He obtained shells of other types than 
the oyster and found some clam, quahaug, and several other 
kinds. 

About a hundred yards down the river on the western 
bank, is another large deposit extending over eight hundred 
feet along the shore. In some places this deposit extends 
inland for over seventy feet. The average depth of this is 
about eleven feet. This location is of particular interest, as 
it is situated before a natural clearing in the woods, which 
has been cultivated for years. A great variety of implements 
have been unearthed here and it is quite probable that this 
was the location of the Indian Settlement, and near the place 
where implements were made for use in peace and war. 
Like the other deposits farther up the peninsula, this one has 
lost much during the centuries. It is estimated that nearly 
half the deposits have wasted away. 

Some idea of the uncertainty of the extent of all these 
deposits may be learned from the fact that when the enter¬ 
prise of converting the shells into lime was contemplated, 
it was thought that most of the shells were on the western 
shore. As the owners would not sell the privilege, as 
previously mentioned, a last resort was to examine the 
eastern shore, which seemed of little promise. The accom¬ 
panying pictures adequately illustrate the great volume 
unearthed, which came as a happy surprise to the promoters. 
For this reason it is doubtful if the full extent of these 
deposits will ever be learned. Through all the years up to 
1886, it was supposed that practically all the volume of 



8 


OYSTER SHELL HEAPS 


shells were on the western shore and little had been done 
to investigate the eastern shore and only casual attention 
given to it. 

Examination of this newly discovered deposit revealed 
that the shells began at the river and extended back into 
the land for over three hundred feet. It was over one 
hundred and twenty-five feet wide and was of great depth 
throughout. It had the appearance of a great whale and 
was given the name of “Whaleback”. It was over sixteen 
feet high and it was later learned that the deposit had been 
started in a depression in the land. During the time this 
enterprise was in operation, it was visited by hundreds of 
tourists and natives. People came from great distances in 
the summer to see this man-made wonder. 

Like the previous attempt on the western shore, this 
enterprise was of short duration and financial difficulties 
compelled it to cease operation. Mr. Edward Cornelious 
Holmes had been the promoter of the company and he 
revived the plant in 1891. As the sole owner, he operated 
the factory during the summer of that year, but early 
Sunday morning, November 15th, the plant was found to be 
in flames and was totally consumed by fire. This great mis¬ 
fortune caused Mr. Holmes to lose all he possessed of worldly 
goods and he later spent the remainder of his life in a 
humble shack at Damariscotta Mills, where he suffered a 
stroke and was found dead by kind neighbors, who provided 
a decent Christian burial and so passed the last participant 
in commercializing this deposit of shells. 

Despite the loss of hundreds of tons of shells by erosion 
and commercial uses, a great volume still stands exposed 
to view. Scientific investigation revealed that there were 
three distinct periods of construction of these heaps. In each 
case there was a period of abandonment, during which time 
a thick layer of vegetable mould accumulated over the shells. 
The lowest layer of shells extended over about one eighth 
of the present known area. This layer was about three feet 
thick, and at the base, many large tree trunks were found 



OYSTER SHELL HEAPS 


9 


which had decayed to powder, leaving conical hollows 
around which the shells were packed. Directly above this 
layer was a strata of mould which was some five inches thick. 
It has been quite accurately determined that it takes about 
one hundred years to accumulate an inch of mould. We can, 
therefore fix the period of this first abandonment at about 
five hundred years. 

The second layer of shells was larger and more extensive. 
This was about six feet thick and covered by mould to the 
thickness of about three inches, or, let us say, an interval 
of three hundred years of the second abandonment. In this 
second strata of mould were found trunks of large trees 
which were of unknown species in this climate. They were 
two or three feet in diameter and had grown up entirely 
over this second strata of shells. These trunks were better 
preserved than those of the first strata, but although they 
held their form, they easily crumbled in the hands. 

The third strata of shells had a layer of about three 
inches of mould over it. An intimate study of this top layer 
of mould caused scientists to agree that it was about three 
hundred years ago when the last deposits were made, or at 
the time of the Wawenock Settlement, at this place of 
abundant food supply. 

There were many evidences of aboriginal occupation 
scattered throughout the shells and various indications of 
the character and habits of these people. In the Whaleback 
mound, a variety of implements were found, but not of any 
great quantity, due to the fact that the actual settlement 
was not at this spot, but somewhat removed. 

At many points among the shells were found evidences 
of small beds of ashes, denoting that food had been prepared 
and cooked there. Several fireplaces of stone were found, 
consisting of a half circle of rocks. Near all these were found 
the unmistakable evidences of savage banquets. Examination 
of these places revealed the bones of every known animal 
in these parts, including bear, lynx, wild-cat, reccoon, otter, 



10 


OYSTER SHELL HEAPS 


mink, seal, skunk, rabbit, caribou and deer. Skeletons of 
wolves were found as well as a panther, parts of a turtle, 
and many other bones of fish such as smelts, alewives, 
sturgeons, bass, pickerel and trout. Mixed in with all this 
was a goodly scattering of clam, quahaug, scallop and shells 
of other mollusks. The animal bones seemed piled in little 
groups, as though they had been the residue of a primeval 
soup or other similar dish. All the bones were broken open 
revealing the savage preference for the marrow, which is 
so common among uncivilized peoples. 

During the brief operation of the factory, on Whaleback 
alone, the more or less complete skeletons of six human 
beings were found. Only two of these showed signs of 
ceremonial burial, being near the top of the second mound. 
These appeared to have been buried after the abandonment 
of the place. Some copper beads and broken pottery were 
next to the remains. The other four were quite different, 
in that they were lower down in the heap and seemed to lay 
as they had fallen, without any beads nor other ceremonials: 
Shells, like all the rest, had simply accumulated over them. 
Their skulls were very broad and in deep contrast to the 
skull formation of the American Indian. It is difficult to 
account for these bodies in the mound as the very ancient 
Red-Paint Indians, who had no connection with the more 
modern Indians, also had their regular burial places, and it 
is unlikely that even savages would bury their dead in the 
refuse from feasts. The prospect of cannibalism can be dis¬ 
counted, as in this case the bones would be broken and 
scattered far and wide. 

These ancient peoples cannot be wholly acquitted of 
cannibalism, however, as there were some broken bones 
among the assortments, which were originally from humans. 
Broken short and split lengthwise, they show the unmis¬ 
takable and successful attempt to get the marrow and, 
moreover, when found, they were in such location and 
surroundings as to prove they once occupied a prominent 
place in the aboriginal soup. 




Mr. Edward Cornelious Holmes, promoter of the 1886 project to ex¬ 
tract lime from the shells. The factory burned on November 15,1891 



Solomon Sidelinger and Joseph Barsto-sv stand beside a portion of 
‘ ‘ Whaleback'' Mound during processing of the shells in 1886-1891. 



Abram Tarr Gam age, right, his son Albert sitting, 
beside the rolling contour of “Whaleback" Mound. 




Mr. Ga mage , his son Albert and workmen, 
standing before the deposit of “ Whaleback 



General -view of a portion of “ Whaleback" with workmen. 
Barrels at the right were used to contain the relics found. 





John B “rsto<w, rear; Waterman Stetson , right; Edward Arnold , 
front; view the steep hanks of shells during the 1886 excavations\ 



OYSTER SHELL HEAPS 


11 


The pottery which was excavated showed a remarkable 
similarity to the type found all over the eastern part of the 
country. It was crude and poorly made and was mostly of 
round bottoms and from six inches to a foot in diameter. 
The bottoms were about an inch thick, but the sides were 
thinner. They were made of a mixture of clay and shells. 
Some had holes which indicated the possible use of a bale 
or handle. The lower down they were in the strata of shells, 
the poorer the quality and design, as well as preservation. 
In the middle and upper strata they were of far better 
quality and showed a decided advance in design, beauty and 
workmanship. 

Through the whole vast excavation it is not surprising 
that great quantities of implements were not found, as these 
places were simply kitchen-middens and the place of food 
refuse. We would, therefore, expect little else than broken 
pots and discarded bones together with the cast off shells. 

The scientists who have examined this area believe 
there are other vast deposits near by, which have not been 
discovered and point out the discovery of Whaleback as 
an example of undisputable evidence. 

The size of the oyster shells in these deposits excite 
the imagination. Nothing like them have ever been found 
in recent times. They range from a foot in length to nearly 
twenty inches. One shell was taken from the upper strata 
of Whaleback which measured one foot long and eight inches 
wide. It was originally over sixteen inches long. The one 
unfortunate oyster who inhabited this shell would fill a pint 
measure. Most shells were single, from the fact that they 
were split for eating and the two parts thrown aside. 

Considerable speculation has been made on the number 
of cubic feet contained in this great deposit. One eminent 
authority, Doctor Jackson, who was State Geologist of 
Maine, and informed on such calculations, used his formulas 
and arrived at the figure of forty-five million cubic feet of 



12 


OYSTER SHELL HEAPS 


shells. His computations were vigorously disputed by other 
authorities and a consensus of these claimed about five 
million cubic feet. 

One authority has made some interesting mathematical 
calculations relative to these five million cubic feet of shells. 
He notes that it would take one hundred freight trains of 
forty cars each to transport them. He found they would 
contain over three million gallons of oysters, which would 
fill a structure three times the size of Bunker Hill Monument, 
and there would be enough left over to fill the great Tun 
of Heidelberg Castle in Germany, six times, this being the 
equivalent of four thousand and eight hundred hogsheads. 
In addition, there would still be enough left over to provide 
a feast for every Indian in the United States at that time. 

The theories as to the time of origin of these deposits 
are confusing and vague. The stratas of mould account for 
over eleven centuries of abandonment, but there is no way 
to compute the period of occupancy of the three races who 
found and consumed this great supply of food. It is certain, 
however, that it was in the dim ages of antiquity. Some 
argue that it was the Phoenicians; others that it was the 
Norsemen. The Esquimos have their adherents and there are 
those who argue for the Danes, as similar kitchen-middens 
were found there. A more logical conclusion seems to be 
that it was the ancient inhabitants of this continent, whoever 
they may have been. Here, again, we confront other author¬ 
ities of great repute who prove that the American Indian 
of which we know so much, had no origin from other tribes 
or from foreign people. 

One of the most illuminating works on this subject is 
the volume by that undisputed authority, Mr. Daniel G. 
Brinton, entitled, “The American Race”. He proves con¬ 
clusively that these American Indians had nothing in 
common with the Eskimos, or races which might have 
migrated from Asia. It leaves one in a state of confusion 
and little to conclude. This excellent work by Mr. Brinton 
is urgently recommended to the reader. 



OYSTER SHELL HEAPS 


13 


So much has been written of the Red-Paint Indians who 
preceded the American Indians and positive assertions by 
all authorities that they had no connection, that we are 
without any basis of conclusion to presume who these 
ancient peoples might have been at the shell heaps. Those 
of the first layer of shells are a mystery, but when we learn 
that Mr. Gamage collected a whole jar of “red-paint” from 
the middle strata of shells, while he was supervising the 
excavation, it points to the Red-Paint Indians. No one has 
informed us of any reason why this ancient race used these 
iron pyrites or ferrous oxide, to cover the bodies of their 
dead, and, furthermore, our American Indians knew no more 
of this practice than we do. It is also very evident that the 
American Indians knew less of the Red-Paint Indians than 
we do. 

We may reliably conclude that there were races previous 
to the Red-Paint Indians who were the first to discover these 
oysters and it is quite certain that the second layer of shells 
were in the Red-Paint era and the last, the American Indians. 
There is considerable to justify these conclusions which are, 
that somewhere back in the dim and ancient past, mother 
nature provided a great source of food in the river which 
was later called the “Damariscotta”. Whatever race of 
humans were the first to discover this gastronomical para¬ 
dise, is a mystery. It is evident that there were three eras, 
the first being unknown, the only evidence being that it was 
some race of humans who had bodies which required 
nourishment and digestive organs such as we, to assimilate 
food. They came, they ate, and they departed. From where 
they came or to where they went is a profound mystery and 
we shall probably never know. After hundreds of years 
another race appeared, which we may presume were the 
Red-Paint Indians. They came, they ate, and fhey went. 
After another interval of several centuries another and third 
race appeared which we may presume with more accuracy, 
were the American Indians. 




14 


OYSTER SHELL HEAPS 


It is about three hundred and fifty years since they 
ceased to live here and from that time to this, mother nature 
has been busy with her endless task of obliterating the 
remains of human activity at these shell heaps. That so 
much remains and so much is visible, is evidence of the 
enormity of the original deposits. 

There are abundant evidences that oysters grew and 
thrived in the river at great distances from the deposits. 
One place of considerable extent was Oyster Creek. This 
small stream leads from the great bay to the farming lands 
beyond and is some two miles from the deposits. Another 
small inlet at the head of the bay was known as “Little 
Oyster Creek”. There were many found here also. It seems 
very evident that they grew over quite an area of the river 
bottom, yet all the deposit of shells is within an area of one 
quarter of a mile at the bend of the river. As late as 1895, 
live, healthy edible oysters were taken from Oyster Creek. 
Mr. Gilbert E. Gay procured a supply from there for a 
novelty supper the men of the Damariscotta Baptist Church 
held at that time. They were not as large as the ancient 
variety, but of excellent flavor. 

An experience of the author will serve to amuse the 
reader and shed considerable historical light on the extent 
to which these oysters propagated in the river. Shortly 
after the year 1900 A. D., the United States Government 
appropriated funds to dredge the Damariscotta River at 
the immediate approach to Cottrell’s Wharf. Tug boats, 
barges and a dredge came up the river and began operations. 
This location was immediately below the present bridge on 
the Damariscotta side of the river. 

It was soon learned that the barges were to be dumped 
in Fitch’s Cove, about five miles down the river. The more 
daring and resourceful boys, of which the author was one, 
were quick to attempt ways and means of riding up and 
down the river. To our surprise, there was no objection and 



OYSTER SHELL HEAPS 


15 


we were among the first to get on the barges and were there 
when the first shovelful came up from the river bottom. 

An unexpected thrill came to us when we observed 
great oyster shells in remarkable preservation, were im¬ 
bedded in the mud of the river bottom and there they had 
remained below tide water for many years. Like all boys, 
our immediate impulse was to jump into the scow, grasp a 
souvenir and get out before the dredge brought up another 
load. Again, to our surprise, there was no objection and we 
soon collected remarkable specimens. There were many 
other interesting experiences connected with this work but 
we are at present concerned with the oysters of the Damaris- 
cotta River. 

In due time a report reached Washington that unusual 
specimens of oyster shells were being taken from the 
Damariscotta River. Word was sent to Captain Frank Smith- 
wick, who was Custom’s Officer at the time, to obtain a 
supply of these shells. A notice was sent out to the boys 
to bring in their souvenirs and that real money would be 
paid for those selected. There was a general parade to 
Captain Smithwick’s office. We came with carts and boxes, 
bags and bundles, and Captain Smithwick soon found he 
had a wide variety to choose from. 

After considerable examination he selected quite an 
assortment and began passing out money. One of the shells 
which the author had been fortunate enough to find, was 
an excellent specimen and consisted of both sides intact and 
remarkably preserved. The sides fitted perfectly and the 
whole was slightly curved as though it had grown adjacent 
to a rock. This shell measured exactly eighteen inches from 
tip to tip. 

Turning his attention to me, Captain Smithwick put his 
hand on my shoulder and said he would like to buy this 
shell, and in his kindly way, asked me the price. After over 
fifty years, I feel compelled to admit that I looked him over, 
wondering how much I could charge. Once I had the 



16 


OYSTER SHELL HEAPS 


momentary and desperate impulse to say fifty cents, but my 
courage failed me and I dared not mention such a huge sum 
of money. He smiled, hesitated, and presented me with a 
piece of paper money. It was nothing I had seen before and 
I looked at it and then at Captain Smithwick, still wondering 
if it was real money. Another hasty glance revealed the 
figure five on it. I concluded it must be money but still had 
no idea how much. 

The other boys profited handsomely during the visit 0 
and we left the office confused, as we began to suspect we 
all had more money than we had ever seen before. One and 
all made a beeline for the grocery store of Mr. Charles M. 
Jones across the street. On entering the door I beheld, direct¬ 
ly before me, a great glass case full of dates. Then and there 
I decided I wanted dates. Mr. Jones did quite a business for 
a while and when he approached me, I had my gaze still 
fixed on that case of dates. I can vaguely remember that he 
asked me how many I wanted. My answer was to produce 
that piece of paper money, which I had been holding with 
such a grip that it was crumpled in my hand. He had reached 
for a paper bag, but laid it aside for a larger container, 
which he filled with an enormous quantity of dates and 
took the money. I was perfectly satisfied, in fact, I thought 
I had better get out before he discovered he had made a 
mistake, as it didn’t seem that little piece of paper was 
worth so many dates. 

Leaving the store I was soon joined by the other boys 
and we all made haste to get over to the old boat house 
for a feast. We spread out our purchases and what an 
assortment it was. There were peanuts, licorice, walnuts, 
cookies, cheese, and every variety of candy, and plenty of 
dates. The next half hour was spent in gobbling up every¬ 
thing in sight. Had this been a contest, I think I should 
have won the two events of eating the most and eating the 
fastest, although I had real competition. 



OYSTER SHELL HEAPS 


17 


For some reason or other most of us began feeling sick. 
This began to assume the proportions of an epidemic, as the 
other boys were stricken and we all struggled to get home. 
I was put to bed and severely scolded. Father learned the 
particulars and polished up the hair brush in a most effective 
place and I spent the next few hours meditating the tragedy 
of the oyster shell. 

This rather amusing experience is interesting to relate 
as it discloses that all the vast area of the river bed below 
the bridge was filled with large oysters and shows that they 
must have grown over a wide area of the river in those 
ancient times. How far down the river they grew is un¬ 
certain, but there is one smaller deposit on the southern 
end of Cottage Point a mile below the village. 

There is some possibility that oysters would still grow 
in the river. It is said that there are live oysters, at this 
time, in what we call “Johnny Orr”. There may be live ones 
in Oyster Creek to this day, but they are few and far 
between. It is known that they were indigenous to the 
coast of Maine, as well as more northern waters as far as 
Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Cape Breton. This is 
probably true as shell heaps have been found in all these 
places. 

There is a persistent story that when the first settlers 
began dumping sawdust into the river, it caused the decline 
and eventual extermination, but I rather lean to the theory 
that as time went on the waters of the Gulf of Maine became 
cooler, and conditions no longer favored the propagation. 
This seems creditable as they gradually died out until today 
none are found north of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where the 
water is known to be warmer, due to the influence of the 
Gulf Stream pressing the Arctic current into the Bay of 
Maine. Some natural change took place which made the 
ideal habitat of this delectable food, no longer suitable to its 
original breeding ground and it must either move or be 
exterminated. The present day oysters of Cape Cod are 



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OYSTER SHELL HEAPS 


tasty, and of their types, the Cotuit seems largest and enjoys 
our personal preference, but it seems almost unbelievable 
that they could be descended from the enormous specimens 
which grew in the Damariscotta River in ancient times. 

One reputable work on the history of these Damariscotta 
oysters, is most complete and was the result of years of 
research and exploration, but I note with keen interest how 
the author avoids making a partial guess at the date of origin 
of this mysterious landmark. A most conservative estimate 
would be that it was previous to the Christian era and quite 
probably antedating B.C. by centuries. 

Whoever were the first people to discover this abundant 
supply of food, and at what remote time it was, will most 
certainly remain a mystery forever. How long the primitive 
savages made use of this facility is beyond conjecture. 
From a standpoint of all the Indian Tribes, and the com¬ 
paratively limited area where these oysters grew, centuries 
must have been required to complete these enormous heaps. 

One authority mentions that a computation based on 
taking enough oysters from the water every hour, to make 
ten gallons of them ready to eat, would take seventy years, 
using every hour of daylight during the whole time, to make 
an accumulation of so vast a quantity of shells. The periods 
of abandonment would have to be reckoned and they alone, 
would account for over eleven centuries when no oysters 
were taken. 

The purpose of this work has been to relate all that is 
authoritatively known of these enormous heaps of shells. 
It would be interesting to speculate on a possible date of 
beginning, when the first humans discovered these edible 
shellfish and gathered their first meal, casting the shells 
carelessly on the ground, which had not known them before. 
That is indeed a mystery. 

How intensly interesting it would be to know what 
contemporary events were taking place elsewhere on this 
earth. Perhaps it was in that ancient time about 460 B.C., 



OYSTER SHELL HEAPS 


19 


when by a strange coincidence the Athenians were marking 
their own oyster shells to signify the exile of Aristides. 
Perchance it was a remote day compared to which the 
ostracism of the noted Grecian was but as yesterday. 

Far far away in the remote pages of unwritten history, 
lies the answer. Present generations may speculate in only 
wild calculation and conclusions. There is neither the 
opportunity to declare, nor authority to dispute the findings 
of a Sage or Neophite. 

There lie the remains of the past, concealing the silent 
evidence of antique previousness. 

There only, today, as it was in the beginning, runs the 
never-ending ebb and flow of the tide waters. Silently we 
glide past the tranquil surroundings, bourne on that same 
tide which carried the ancients. However wild and active 
the scenes once witnessed in this little valley, now all is 
silent. The great host of dusky forms which we see in 
retrospective and panoramic vision, are now only part of 
the dust we tread at every step. 

Pausing a moment on the shelly bank, beneath the 
shade of great pine trees, we speculate on the historic past 
of this area. Before us the silent river passes its waters. 
Overhead a sea gull drifts majestically, seeming to defy the 
very laws of gravitation. To the eastward we note the low 
circling of a hawk. A bird twitters softly near us in the 
thicket. Shaded shores are nearby and pretty coves beyond. 
All is serene and silent. 

We gaze at the shells all about us. We pluck a spray of 
Jewell weed or possibly a lone primrose. Far to the right 
a blue heron stands silently peering into the water. The 
picture is momentarily quickened by a flock of active sand¬ 
pipers, who dart by on their swift and unerring flight. 
Vainly we look about seeking some clue by which we may 
look down the corridors of time to those far off days and 
find the answer to this great mystery. Our only answer is 



20 


OYSTER SHELL HEAPS 


the faint whispering of the pines and a tranquility which 
seems to draw the curtain of the past forever closed to the 
actors and drama of this great historical area. 

As the sun dips in the west we slowly arise from our 
musings and with a gentle effort, launcfi our little craft and 
slowly and silently float down the river to the village where 
modern ways absorb us in the present and blot out further 
meditation on this mystery of the past. 








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